Color dispenser for use with pressurized cans of whipped topping

ABSTRACT

A color dispenser comprising a hollow dispensing ring with nozzles and a flexible pouch which can be filled with food coloring is slipped over the nozzle of a conventional pressurized can of whipped topping. When finger pressure is applied to the pouch, the food coloring is squeezed out through the nozzles, and mixed with the whipped topping as the topping flows out from the nozzle of the pressurized can. Thus, the topping can be tinted with colors other than the customary white.

United States Patent Schwede July 29, 1975 [54] COLOR DISPENSER FOR USE WITH 3,345,988 10/1967 Vitello 222/94 X ED 3 394,43O 7/1968 Stephanoff et al..

PRESSURIZED CANS 0F WHIPP 3,533,884 10/1970 Quackerbush 425/131 X TOPPING Inventor: William Schwede, 40 Woodmar Ter., West Seneca, N.Y. 14224 Filed: May 30, 1974 Appl. No.: 474,720

US. Cl. 222/106; 222/129; 239/316 Int. Cl. B65d 37/00 Field of Search 222/94, 106, 129, 192, 222/206, 215, 541; 239/304, 315, 316; 425/131, 133

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1958 Saffir 222/94 X 4/1966 Body 425/131 X Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel [5 7] ABSTRACT A color dispenser comprising a hollow dispensing ring with nozzles and a flexible pouch which can be filled with food coloring is slipped over the nozzle of a conventional pressurized can of whipped topping. When finger pressure is applied to the pouch, the food coloring is squeezed out through the nozzles, and mixed with the whipped topping as the topping flows out from the nozzle of the pressurized can. Thus, the topping can be tinted with colors other than the customary white.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 FIG! COLOR DISPENSER FOR USE WITH PRESSURIZED CANS OF WHIPPED TOPPING SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention is directed towards improvements in the art of food decoration. It is the object of my invention to provide a means whereby whipped topping, which is customarily white and which is customarily dispensed through a nozzle on a pressurized can, may be tinted different colors and thus improve the appearance of foods on which the topping is used.

To this end I construct a hollow dispensing ring with nozzles symmetrically disposed around its inner circumference and connecting the inside of the ring to the outside. I attach to the outside of the ring a flexible pouch filled with food coloring to the ring in a manner that the interior of the pouch is contiguous with the interior of the ring.

When I wish to use the device, I slip the dispensing ring over the nozzle of a conventional pressurized can of whipped topping. I align the nozzles in the dispensing ring with the lengthwise slits which are customarily cut into the nozzle on the pressurized can. The pouch which contains the food coloring lies flush against the nozzle of the can. When I press my finger against the pouch, two things happen: the food coloring is forced out of the pouch into the interior of the dispensing ring and out through the nozzles in the ring, and the nozzle of the can is displaced from its original position. Thus, topping flows out of the nozzle of the can and mixes with the coloring flowing out of the nozzles in the ring. When I am finished with the particular color in the dispenser, I can slide the dispenser off the nozzle of the can.

In order to prevent the coloring from flowing out the nozzles in the dispensing ring when the color dispenser is not on the nozzle of the can, I place a retaining loop in the center of the dispensing ring, in a manner that the retaining loop presses against the nozzles and blocks them off. When I wish to use the color dispenser, I first remove the retaining loop, unblocking the nozzles. Then I can slip the dispensing ring over the nozzle of the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a drawing of my invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a side view of my invention mounted ready for use; and

FIG. 3 is a top cross sectional view of my invention with the retaining ring fitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings: A hollow circular plastic ring 1 whose interior volume 2 occupies 270 of arc around the ring has a plurality of nozzles 3 symmetrically disposed around the inner circumference of the ring. A flexible hollow plastic pouch 4 is disposed outside the ring and has its interior volume contiguous with the interior volume of the ring. A retaining loop 5 cut from a rectangular strip of plastic is bent into the shape of a circular C concentric with the ring, and blocks off the nozzles in the ring. When the retaining loop is removed, the ring is slipped over the dispensing nozzle 6 of a conventional pressurized can of whipped topping 7. The nozzles in the ring are aligned with the slits 8 which are cut lengthwise in the dispensing nozzle.

When pressure is applied to the flexible pouch, the dispensing nozzle is displaced from its original position and whipped topping 9 flows out of the dispensing nozzle onto a cake 10. At the same time, the food coloring inside the pouch is forced out the nozzles into the path of the whipped topping, mixing with it and coloring it. Foods other than cakes can be similarly decorated.

Although I have described my invention with detailed reference to the drawings, the protection sought is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A color dispenser designed to be filled with food coloring and adapted for use with a presurized can of whipped topping having a slitted discharge nozzle, said dispenser comprising:

a hollow ring having a chamber, the inner circumfer ence of the ring defining the periphery of an opening through which the nozzle of the can can extend, said ring having a plurality of nozzles disposed symmetrically about said inner circumference and connecting said chamber to said opening;

a flexible hollow pouch having a chamber and contiguous to said ring, the ring and pouch chambers communicating with each other; and

a retaining loop detachably secured to and pressing against said ring nozzles, said loop being disposed in said opening.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said pouch chamber contains said coloring whereby when said pouch is squeezed, said coloring is forced into the ring, said loop when pressing against the ring nozzles blocking same and preventing escape of said coloring therethrough.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein when said loop is removed, and the can nozzle is pushed through the opening of the ring the ring engages the can nozzle and the pouch extends along side of the nozzle, whereby when pressure is applied to the pouch, the can nozzle is displaced and topping flows thereout while at the same time the coloring is forced out of the ring nozzles and through the slits in the can nozzle to mix with the topping and color it. 

1. A color dispenser designed to be filled with food coloring and adapted for use with a presurized can of whipped topping having a slitted discharge nozzle, said dispenser comprising: a hollow ring having a chamber, the inner circumference of the ring defining the periphery of an opening through which the nozzle of the can can extend, said ring having a plurality of nozzles disposed symmetrically about said inner circumference and connecting said chamber to said opening; a flexible hollow pouch having a chamber and contiguous to said ring, the ring and pouch chambers communicating with each other; and a retaining loop detachably secured to and pressing against said ring nozzles, said loop being disposed in said opening.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said pouch chamber contains said coloring whereby when said pouch is squeezed, said coloring is forced into the ring, said loop when pressing against the ring nozzles blocking same and preventing escape of said coloring therethrough.
 3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein when said loop is removed, and the can nozzle is pushed through the opening of the ring the ring engages the can nozzle and the pouch extends along side of the nozzle, whereby when pressure is applied to the pouch, the can nozzle is displaced and topping flows thereout while at the same time the coloring is forced out of the ring nozzles and through the slits in the can nozzle to mix with the topping and color it. 